유아기 자녀를 둔 어머니의 기본심리욕구가 양육스트레스와 양육효능감에 미치는 영향

Effects of Basic Psychological Needs on Parenting Stress and Parenting Efficacy of Mothers with Young Children

Background/Objectives: This study aims to provide basic data to help understand and promote parenting efficacy by exploring factors that affect the parenting efficacy of mothers. To this end, the effect of the basic psychological needs of mothers with young children and the mediating role of parenting stress on their parental efficacy were investigated. Methods: Participants of this study were 400 mothers with children between the ages of 3 and 5. Data were collected via an online survey, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including means, correlations, and reliabilities, calculated using SPSS 24.0. Additionally, a structural equation model analysis was performed using AMOS 23.0. Results: It was found that the higher the basic psychological needs of the mothers, the lower the level of parenting stress, thereby increasing parenting efficacy. The results revealed the direct and indirect pathways, mediated by parenting stress, involved in the effect of basic psychological needs of mothers on their parenting efficacy. Conclusion/Implications: This study is significant in that it revealed the mediating path of parenting stress in the process of basic psychological needs of mothers affecting their parenting efficacy. This suggests that support and efforts are needed to satisfy their basic psychological needs and reduce parenting stress in order to improve the parenting efficacy of mothers raising young children.